Texas curricula culture wars featured in documentary at Tribeca

A documentary premiering at this weekend’s Tribeca Film Festival portrays the debate over the role of religion on the Texas State Board of Education.

“The Revisionaries” focuses on the influence of former Texas SBOE chair Don McLeroy and Houstonian Cynthia Dunbar, both conservative Christians who believe in young-earth creationism.

McLeroy, Dunbar and others see themselves as fighting against liberal bias in textbooks, while opponents see them as pushing their biblically inspired viewpoints into science and social studies teachings. Groups of progressive clergy as well as the Texas Freedom Network have led critiques against the board.

McElroy and current SBOE Gail Lowe drew national attention for their insistence in emphasizing the Christianity of the Founding Fathers, inspiring this New York Times magazine piece. The other big issue is the ongoing debate over evolution and creationism or intelligent design.

The director, Texas native and University of North Texas grad Scott Thurman, follows the board and McElroy in particular over a three-year period. The movie also premieres in Texas this weekend, at the Dallas International Film Festival.